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Studio

The WR World Records studio is a 40m2 (430 sq. ft.) The name is derived from my wish to make music fro the whole world, including every single being and not excluding anybody!

The Studio was designed by both Morel Music’s Jan Morel, Coon Bouw’s Marco Groot and House of Characters’ Jack Fraaij. I love the combination of high tech, retro and home atmosphere all in one room! The cherrywood finishes on the Vicoustic panels and the chandeliers give it it’s warm and pleasant vibe. I notice a lot of people that visit want to stay for a long time and I think this is at least partially caused by this atmosphere.

I try to combine best of both digital and analog worlds. In order to accomplish this, I use an SSL AWS 900+ SE, a hybrid analog console with both an analog audio layer and a digital control surface to control two DAW’s at the same time. I run 24 channels out of my Macbook through an Antelope Orion32 and monitor everything on Barefoot MM27’s. Those monitors were suggested to me by MSV’s Patrick van Dijk and I am very grateful he did as they are absolutely stunning!

I chose to use a macbook pro a few years back to get away from having to service my computer every 6 months (basically re-install everything) and having a mobile solution, so I can work anywhere I want to. Using this basic setup, I don’t have to switch my workflow, which helps staying focussed all the time.

Sound sources are both software and hardware. Being a Korg fan from the beginning I have a Kronos Workstation plus my old M1. Being lucky to have a vintage Jupiter 8, a modern Moog Subphatty as well as the latest in software such as Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate controlled by their S series keyboards (provided by Amptec's Bart Hilberink), I have a wide choice of sound sources and never out ammo. Besides these I have a very rare Hartmann Neuron, which basically gave me a whole new perspective on sound and synthesis (or should I say re-synthesis). The whole list of software and hardware instruments can be found in the link below.

The last but not least musical instrument I would like to mention is one of my microphones. The XL251 by Bert Drost of Gonzo Audio is a hand built large diaphragm tube microphone. This microphone is built by the philosophy of Bert to leave out any part that doesn’t contribute to the quality and sound of the microphone which results in an amazing sounding microphone with an enormous sound pressure level! And I am proud to say Gonzo Audio is a Dutch company as well!

Processing of sound and mixing is done by using plugins mainly from Universal Audio. Universal Audio is one of the finest plugin builders around and their plugins are either modelled after famous gear or new inventions around beautiful sound sources such as the famous Ocean Way Studios. I also use iZotope software a lot. I love their workflow and control over different aspects of sound. And of course everything is mixed through the SSL console, which creates this amazing 3D sound image!

When composing I like to return to basics quite often, using a piano. I have a Yamaha NU1 which is a hybrid upright piano. This way I don’t have to worry about tuning and varying temperature in the studio, but still have that authentic feeling of playing keys with proper hammer action. And sitting behind the piano, having a small light switched on, everything else just fades away. I highly recommend having this type of setup for any producer!